Headed to the Streets was written by BL Shirelle at Muncy State Correctional Institution (Muncy PA) in May 2015, a few months before she was set to be released.
Her lyrics were sent to Anthony “Big Ant” McKinney and Mark B. Springer, both lifers incarcerated at Warren Correctional Institution (Lebanon OH), for composition.
In November 2015, Fury Young and dr. Israel recorded Ant’s vocal and the song’s instrumental track with incarcerated musicians at WCI.
When BL was released in December 2015, her vocals were recorded in her hometown of Philly.
The lead guitar is by gHSTS & gUITARS, who spent his youth in and out of juvenile facilities in New York.
The background vocals in the last chorus are by Ezette Edouard and Dexter Nurse, who were both incarcerated in the New York state prison system.
lyrics
Headed to the Streets
lyrics by BL Shirelle
I wake up sweatin’ sweatin’
I be sweatin’ in my sheets
Everytime I go to sleep
I be headed to the streets
I be diggin’ findin’ searchin’ for whoever got it cheap
I be rippin’ robbin’ murkin’ tryna settle all my beef
I had a dream like Martin Luther
It was killed by Freddie Krueger
Gotta live to find my purpose
Not accepting this defeat
I wake up sweating in my sheets
Everytime I go to sleep
I be headed to the streets
Another day another hope for a dolla’ I hit the pavement
Been filling out 20 applications
A day since I got out
I see my old niggas and they shout out
They like “What you need? I got you”
They pull they knots out
We start reminiscing
The good times get my attention
Gotta admit this shit is hard
I’m getting tempted
LIke fuck these hungry nights
Fuck these fried bologna nights
This shit is a lonely life
Lonely night
Lonely night
Without a call back I’ll make a little wealth
If I gotta chop a tree down make the paper myself
As I chop a key down I’m truly truly hating myself
Then out of a nightmare
I awaken myself
Give me my dreams or give me ya fiends
I’m haunted by the penitentiary screams
VICTIMIZED
Shiesty bitches with schemes
INSTITUTIONALIZED
I carry razors in the slits of my jeans
Hidden in seams
Tell me what this liberty means
Now that I’m out can I live and be free?
Can I work for a company that pays more than minimally?
Will I give up before I get to see what’s in it for me?
This ain’t about material
It’s about looking in the mirror seein’ inferior
Society don’t trust you – they couldn’t get any learier
I’m tired from my struggle – I couldn’t get any wearier
I’m happy, I’m sad, anxious, angry, plain hysteria
Mixed with terror
New territory – always scarier
I killed my old habits
Drug ‘em to a wooded area
But couldn’t seem to bury ‘em
Bag of bones I carry ‘em
Sick as fuck I cherish ‘em
I wake up wake up wake up
I wake up
I be sweatin’ in my sheets
Everytime I go to sleep
I be headed to the streets
I be diggin’ findin’ searchin’ for whoever got it cheap
I be rippin’ robbin’ murkin’ tryna settle all my beef
I had dream like Martin Luther it was killed by Freddie Krueger Gotta live to find my purpose not acceptin’ this defeat
BUT –
I WAKE UP
SWEATIN’ IN MY SHEETS
EVERYTIME I GO TO SLEEP
I BE HEADED TO THE –
credits
from Die Jim Crow EP,
released May 1, 2016
Lyrics by BL Shirelle
Music by Mark B. Springer and Anthony “Big Ant” McKinney
Vocal 1: Anthony McKinney
Vocal 2: BL Shirelle
Background vocals: Dexter Nurse & Ezette Edouard
Guitar: Derrick Foley
Lead guitar: gHSTS & gUITARS
Keys: Mark B. Springer
Bass: Sedrick Franklin
Drums: Anthony McKinney
gHSTS & gUITARS dedicates his guitar solo to Derrick Foley.
Ant’s vocals, guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass recorded by dr. Israel at Warren Correctional Institution, Lebanon OH.
BL Shirelle’s vocal recorded by dr. Israel at Woo Woo Studios, Philadelphia PA.
Lead guitar and background vocals recorded by dr. Israel at revolutionsound, Brooklyn NY.
Produced by Fury Young
Co-producer/Engineer: dr. Israel
Mixed by dr. Israel
Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at TurtleTone Studio NYC
Lonnie Holley's first new album since 2018 sees the "cosmic Southerner" blues, jazz, and folk artist reflect on hardship and triumph. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 10, 2023
